SSHoF logoEd Swiderski

Athlete (2000)

Softball

Ed Swiderski Ed was a dominant player with the College Lads in the Saskatoon senior men's softball league from 1966 through 1969, winning three straight batting titles and gaining all-star recognition, before joining the Saskatoon Merchants for their 1969 Canadian championship run.

Ed was born April 17, 1937, in Lloydminster and later his family settled in the Perdue area. In high school, Ed excelled in track and field, once running the 100 yards in 10 seconds flat at a West Central meet, then setting provincial open junior records in the hop, step and jump and the javelin in 1956 at Griffiths Stadium. He set a provincial senior boys' high school record in hop, step and jump in 1956 and was chosen to attend the Canadian junior track and field championships at St. Lambert, Quebec. At the nationals, he won silver medals in the hop, step and jump and javelin and bronze in the 100-yard dash.

Ed's pitching and timely hitting helped Gronlid win a league softball championship in 1953 and then he led Perdue softball team go through a remarkable record, winning 63 games and losing only two, during the summer tournaments in 1956.

He moved to Saskatoon in 1957 and joined the Saskatoon Westside Merchants of the Senior Men's league. The Westside Merchants won the Saskatchewan Senior B Men's championship during the 1958 season, beating Prince Albert Royals in the final. He stayed with the Merchants until 1965.

Ed joined the College Lads in the Saskatoon men's league in 1966, became the first and only player to win three straight batting titles - a .439 average in 1967, a .429 average in 1968 and a .380 average in 1969. He was named to the league all-star team each year and named outstanding outfielder in 1969. Ed was added to the Saskatoon Merchant lineup for the 1969 playoffs. They won Saskatchewan, with seven straight wins, including 4-3 and 3-12 wins over Weyburn. They qualified for the nationals in Saskatoon as host team. After tying with Hull, Quebec, each with four wins and a loss, they beat Hull, 7-0, in the tiebreaker to win the Canadian championship.

The trophies, badges and newspaper clippings in Ed's basement are a reflection of his accomplishments in sports, a career that also briefly included a role with Saskatoon Quakers of the Saskatchewan Junior League.

** Deceased